BAYBORO — Kevin Yost believes there is a lot more to coaching than just wins and losses. Yet, he still has a competitive fire to him.

Yost was approved to be Pamlico High School’s next football coach.

“I’m excited for the opportunity,” Yost said. “I love coaching the kids. I want to compete in the conference. I just want to build excitement of football around here.”

Yost, who spent last season as the Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator, is passionate about building a winning program at Pamlico.

Alan Woodard was hired as the Hurricanes’ head football coach prior to the 2011 season. He took a leave of absence for the 2012 season, and then chose to resign from the position.

Mike Twichell, who will stay on as defensive coordinator, was Pamlico’s interim head coach last season.

The Hurricanes went 1-9 in 2012.

“From what I’ve heard (Pamlico) has been good in the past, especially in the early part of the 2000s,” Yost said. “I would really like to see them get back to that level.

“Football is good in Eastern North Carolina and there is no reason we can’t get athletes to come play football here.”

Yost, a social studies teacher a Pamlico, was head coach at West Craven High from 2009-11. He compiled a record of 16-19.

Led by quarterback Justin Hardy, Yost’s Eagles won 10 games and advanced to the second round of the 3-A state playoffs in 2009.

“I try to be selfless, so I looked in the mirror and asked ‘What can I do better?,’ Yost said. “One of the lessons I learned was to challenge the kids in discipline and to make sure we don’t have character issues and to put people around me that I trust.

“I felt like trust got broken a little (at West Craven). I really like the pieces that are in place at Pamlico. Our personalities go together well.”

One of Yost’s challenges is to rejuvenate a Pamlico football program that’s won just two games in the past two seasons.

The Hurricanes’ last winning season was in 2010 when they went 6-5.

“I am passionate about football,” Yost said “I respect the game and I want the kids to respect the game. I want them to understand all the hard work it takes.

“It’s so much like life, in that when you face adversity, it’s about getting back up, getting off the ground and going back at it. Football is about teamwork, and brotherhood and believing in the guy next to you.”

Yost saw improvement from his team last season. The Hurricanes started five freshmen on defense, and only had three seniors on the entire squad.

“The rising sophomores and juniors (at Pamlico) have a phenomenal class,” Yost said. “This was probably the most athletic group of freshmen that I have seen.

“We are excited to get them in the weight room and get them to work in the offseason. It’s going to be strenuous, but we are going to take big strides.”

No longer will the Hurricanes have to compete against powerhouse Southwest Onslow. Next season, Pamlico will play in a new conference with Jones Senior, East Carteret, Lejeune, Northside (Pinetown) and Southside (Chocowinity).

Yost is excited about the opportunity to turn the program around.

“We are building from the ground up and I am excited to take over this program,” he said. “I have a system that I believe in and we are going to build winners. We are going to compete in practice and we are going to compete on Friday nights.”

Aside from winning games, Yost feels it’s important to build character, discipline and accountability among his players.

He also tried to form a family-type atmosphere with his football teams.

“I came from a fatherless home, so my coaches were like my fathers and mentors,” Yost said. I desire to be there for the kids.”

Along with Twichell, Yost is likely to keep Brandon Squires, Robbie Raber and Doug Smith on his coaching staff.

“I feel that (Coach Yost) has a strong foundation of bringing the best out of his student-athletes,” Pamlico County High School Principal Henry Rice said in a press release. “He is well-respected as a teacher and coach within the district.”